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Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk decides to declare for the NBA draft

Gonzaga’s Kelly Olynyk has decided to bypass his senior season and declare for the NBA draft, The Spokesman-Review has learned.

Olynyk, who turned 22 today, averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks as a junior. He made 63 percent of his field-goal attempts and 77.6 percent of his free throws.

The 7-foot forward from Kamloops, B.C., was a consensus All-American as well as an academic All-American selection.

“I love this place, I love my teammates, but the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid so it was something I had to act on,” Olynyk said in a news release from Gonzaga. “It’s your dream. That’s the highest level and everyone wants to play at the highest level. It will be a journey, but I think it will be a fun one. You have to make sure you are ready to go and you are ready to play. You’re just moving on and you don’t know what’s going to happen up there.”

Olynyk informed Gonzaga head coach Mark Few of his decision Friday morning and then contacted his Bulldog teammates to share the news with them, the release said.

“We are very proud of what Kelly was able to accomplish at Gonzaga both on the court and in the classroom,” Few said. “The fact he was the Academic All-American for all of college basketball is a great example of what he is all about. We wish him all the best in his next challenge.”